Foldable stretcher.



F. GARPHEIDE & W. WESTERHEIDE.

POLDABLE STRETCHBR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 4, 1909.

Patented May 30, 1911.

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F. GARPHEIDE & W. WESTERHEIDE.

FOLDABLE STRETGHER. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 4, 1909.

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FRITZ GARII-IEIDE AND WILHELM WESTERI-IEIDE, OF SOLINGEN, GERMANY.

FOLDABLE STRETCI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

Application led November 4, 1909. Serial No. 526,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRITZ GARrHnrDn and WILHELM Wns'rnnrminn, bothcitizens of the German Empire, and residents of Solingen, Germany, havejointly invented an Improved Foldable Stretcher', of which.

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a stretcher of novel construction, which canbe used either with or without wheels, and which may be readily foldedso as to be conveniently carried on the back.

The stretcher is well adapted for field service; factories, policestations and similar uses. v

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation ofl astretcher embodying our invention; Fig. 2 a plan; Fig. 3 a left hand endview; Fig. 4 a side view showing the device folded; Fig. 5 a detail ofthe adjustable head rest; Fig. 6 a similar View showing the parts in adifferent position; Fig. 7 a detail of a modification of the head rest,and Fig. 8 a detail of the foot end of the device.

The longitudinal bars 1 of the stretcher are preferably made tubular andof oblong cross section. Each bar is articulated, being composed of fourlengths connected by three stop hinges 2, 3 and 4, which permit adownward but not an upward folding. The central hinge 3 projects fartherdown than the flanking hinges 2, 4 and has tapering sides to which atruck is adapted to be coupled. To the head end of bars 1, are securedsector shaped plates 5 having curved slots 6. A head rest frame 8,pivoted to plates 5 by rod 7, has laterally extending pins that engageslots 6, and carry winged nuts 9, so that the frame may be set atdifferent angles. In bearings 10, depending from plates 5, are fulcrumedat 11, the inwardly bulged resilient Shanks 12 of a U-shaped fore foot13. Shanks 12 are extended upwardly beyond fulcrum 11, and are herenotched as at 14, for engagement with a pawl 16, pivoted at 15, andwhich prevents the foot from turning inward. To prevent the foot fromturning outward, pawl 16 is provided with a nose 17, adapted to engage anotch 18 of frame 8. At Some distance beyond pivot 15, there isjournaled in the head end of bars 1, a roller 19 to which one end of acanvas bottom A is attached. This bottom passes between bars 1 over arod 20 fitted in the foot end of said bars, thence under rod 7 andfinally to a roller 21 journaled in the outer end of frame 8, and towhich the other end of the bottom is attached. Nuts carried by roller 19permit the canvas to be wound upon the same when bulged by wear. At thefoot end of the stretcher there are provided handles 22,turning ontransverse rod 2O and provided at their ends with locking pins 23, thatare adapted to engage upper notches 24 of a pivoted hind foot 25. Itwill be seen from Fig. 8 that when the foot is righted, and handles 22are raised, pins 23 will enter the notches 24, to lock the foot againstturning. In order to maintain han dles 22 in their raised position theyare provided with recesses 26, adapted to be engaged by detents 27pivoted to foot 25. Upon swinging these detents out of recesses 26handles 22 and foot 25 are liberated so that they can be folded.

Vhen the parts occupy their normal position (Fig. l) the canvas bottom Ais taut and ready to support a atient. the stretcher, the lowering ofthe head sections of bars 1 on hinge 2 will carry roller 19 downward asillustrated in Fig. 6. In this way the distance between roller 19 androd 20 is reduced so that the canvas is first tightened and thenslackened, and does not offer an impediment to the folding of the bars 1into the position shown in Fig. 4.

A cover B which may be strapped to rod 20, roller 21 and bars 1, isremoved before the device is folded. As shown, the cover is composed oftwo sections which may be connected by fasteners C.

'Ihe truck adapted to be coupled to the stretcher is provided with awheel having pneumatic tires and journaled in a forked frame. The latterhas an elliptic spring 28, on which is mounted a block 29 havingtapering sockets 30 which are adapted to receive the tapering hinges 3of the stretcher.

In use, the stretcher is unfolded, feet 13, 25 are lowered, handles 22are raised, head frame 8 is brought into the proper position and allparts are properly interlocked (Fig. l). If it is desired to lighten theburden of the bearers, the central supporting truck is fitted to hinges3, the folding of the stretcher being prevented by the taut canvasbottom A. Instead of providing plates 5 In folding with curved slots 6,they may be serrated as at 32 for engagement.y with paWls 33 pivoted toframe 8, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

We claim:

l. A stretcher comprising a pair of articulated longitudinal bars, acanvas bottom supported thereby, a pair of central stop hinges dependingfrom the bars and having tapering sides, and a truck having taperingsockets, that are adapted to accommodate the hinges.

2. A stretcher comprising a pair of articulated longitudinal bars havinga central hinge and two flanking hinges, a foldable head frame, a rstroller journaled in the head section of the bars, a transverse rodmounted in the foot section of the bars, a second roller journaled inthe head frame,

and a canvas bottom extending from the tirst roller over the transverserod to the second roller.

3. A stretcher comprising a pair of articulated longitudinal bars havinga central hinge and tWo flanking hinges, a head frame pivoted to thebars, means for setting the frame, a canvas bottom extending between thebars and also over the head frame, a pair of feet pvoted to the bars,means for locking the feet, and a truck adapted to be coupled to thebars.

4. A stretcher provided with a pair of articulated longitudinal bars, acanvas boty toni carried thereby, a pivoted head frame, a pivoted frontfoot having a notch, a pavvl engaging said notch, and a nose on the paWladapted to engage the head frame.

FRITZ GARPHEIDE. WILHELM WESTERHEIDE.

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Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner voff Patents,

Washington, D. C.

